Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:1

A virtuous wife, by her piety, prudence, good economy, and the like, supports and advances her family in honour, happiness, and wealth: but a wicked imprudent wife, by her pride, prodigality, idleness, carelessness, or otherwise, will quickly reduce a happy family to poverty, disgrace, and ruin

Proverbs 14:2

By an universal regard to piety and virtue, men manifest the fear and holy reverence of God implanted in their heart: but, by an obstinate rebellion against his laws, and eager study to gratify their sinful lusts and passions, they discover their profane contempt of his majesty

Proverbs 14:3

The insolent, calumniating, and contemptuous, speeches of proud men are very injurious and wounding to others, and often at last prove a scourge to themselves: but the prudent, peaceable, and pleasing, words of wise men neither offending God nor men, secure them in safety

Proverbs 14:4

They who would have plenty must be content with the dirt that labour makes; or, if the tillage of the fields be neglected, famine must follow: but laborious tillage will issue in great plenty

Proverbs 14:6

Proud self-conceited scoffers at what is holy and serious are never like to profit by their studies, or to come to the knowledge of divine truth: whereas they, who humbly, and dependently on God apply themselves to search out truth, quickly attain to the knowledge of whatever is necessary and useful

Proverbs 14:7

It is proper to flee from the company of such persons as discover the corruption of their heart in the vanity or wickedness of their words

Proverbs 14:8

Prudent men chiefly study to know how to act in their own calling and religious course: but wicked men employ their knowledge and wit to deceive others

Proverbs 14:9

Insensible of the evil, malignity, and danger, of sin, wicked men harden themselves in it, please themselves with their own and other men’s sins, sport themselves in the commission or recollection thereof, and so provoke God to wrath against them: but they, who are afraid of, hate, and avoid, sin, truly love and regard their neighbours, and obtain favour with God and man

Proverbs 14:10

No one can know what another inwardly suffers in worldly griefs and vexations, or in troubles of conscience; neither can they share 7 N with him in his inward joys, particularly those of a spiritual nature

Proverbs 14:11

The stately houses, wealthy and honoured families, of the wicked, shall in wrath be reduced to ruin and misery, and their hopes of eternal happiness issue in everlasting despair; whereas the poor and unsettled family of the truly pious shall flourish, and become illustrious

Proverbs 14:12

There is need strictly and impartially to try courses and customs; for prejudice, self-flattery, affected ignorance, and the like, make many things seem lawful and good which are really sinful and ruinous

Proverbs 14:13

Immoderate joys and pleasures are ordinarily mingled with, and issue in, inward vexation and anguish: and the diverting of inward convictions and important duties by carnal mirth will quickly issue in the weepings and wailings of eternal despair

Proverbs 14:14

He, who even in heart revolts from God and his ways, shall be fearfully overwhelmed with the punishment of his sin; but a good man, who stedfastly cleaves to the Lord, shall enjoy great comfort in the testimony of a good conscience, and in keeping God’s commands

Proverbs 14:15

Weak half-witted persons believe every idle story and plausible pretence, and thereby are drawn into evil: but prudent men examine things before they trust to them or practise them

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man, when warned of his error or danger, fears to displease God or to provoke his wrath, and immediately starts back from the sin to which he was tempted, or in which he had involved himself: but a fool rages against those that reprove, warn, or threaten, him, and goes on resolutely in sin, fearless of any danger

Proverbs 14:17

He who is soon angry involves himself in rash and imprudent words and actions, for which he is to be pitied: but a man who conceals his wrath, and deliberately contrives how to take a cruel revenge, deserves to be hated and abhorred

Proverbs 14:18

Inconsiderate sinners hold fast their wickedness, and delight in it, as their portion and inheritance, till they feel the woeful effects of it: but the prudent, to their remarkable honour and influence, increase in spiritual understanding

Proverbs 14:19

Even in this world the wicked are often obliged to stoop and submit to the righteous, and implore their favour and relief: and at the last day the debasement of the wicked and exaltation of the righteous shall be complete

Proverbs 14:20

If a man fall into poverty, his neighbours, who once professed great friendship, will forsake and disregard him: but, if a man grow rich, many, who before took no notice of him, will pretend great affection to him, and even the greatest will offer him their favour

Proverbs 14:21

He who overlooks and contemns his poor neighbour, provokes God to punish and render him miserable: but he who compassionately relieves the poor shall be blessed by God on that account

Proverbs 14:22

They who contrive mischief against their innocent neighbours, miss their end, and ruin themselves; but they who study to do men real good shall be graciously and faithfully rewarded by God

Proverbs 14:23

Industrious labours in any lawful calling will bring in some gain: but talkativeness and proud boasting tend only to make men beggars

Proverbs 14:24

Riches are a singular ornament and advantage to wise men, who know how to use them, because thereby they have the greater opportunities of doing good: but riches only render foolish men’s folly the more notorious, because they have thereby the greater opportunities of doing mischief and wickedness

Proverbs 14:25

An upright witness will at all hazards avow the truth, to save the lives or characters of such as are falsely accused: but deceitful men will boldly pour forth lies and calumnies to destroy the innocent

Proverbs 14:26

They that fear God may be confident of his protection to themselves and their posterity in times of danger

Proverbs 14:27

An holy regard to God, and obedience to his law, will issue in men’s solid and eternal comfort, and preserve them from those sinful courses in which many are ensnared to their own destruction

Proverbs 14:28

Kings ought to cherish their subjects; for on their number, wealth, and power, their own honour depends; and, if they be wasted by unnecessary wars, or forced by oppression into other countries, it will prove the ruin of the kingdom

Proverbs 14:29

He, who under great provocations can maintain a calmness of temper, discovers much wisdom and grace: but he, who is hastily inflamed by reproaches and ill usage, exposes his corruption and folly, and makes it apparent to every one

Proverbs 14:30

Nothing more conduces to health and happiness than a mind renewed by God’s Spirit, freed from the dominion of sinful lusts, quiet, gentle, and contented; but envy and such like fretful passions, torment men’s spirits, waste their bodies, and hasten them towards hell and the grave

Proverbs 14:31

He that defrauds or oppresses the poor, or withholds the relief which their circumstances require, forgets, and even practically blasphemies, God, who makes them poor, and engages himself to defend and relieve them: but he who hath any due respect to God will shew pity to the poor, and labour to supply them

Proverbs 14:32

In death the wicked is suddenly and irresistibly driven away from all his beloved hopes and enjoyments, in his sinful state; and often in the very act of sin, and always on account of it, into everlasting misery: but the righteous, being united to Christ, clothed with his righteousness, and sanctified by his indwelling Spirit, has, even in trouble and death, well grounded hopes of eternal felicity

Proverbs 14:33

Prudent men study to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ, without making unseasonable or ostentatious demonstrations of it: but foolish men expose themselves by their eager desire to vent their minds in every company

Proverbs 14:34

Religion and virtue, equity and kindness, through the blessing of God, increase the glory, power, and wealth, of a nation: but rebellion against God, or injuring of mankind, disgraces and ruins societies

Proverbs 14:35

A prudent, active, and faithful, minister of state cannot but be dear to a wise king: and one who by his ill management disgraces his government, and brings all things into confusion, cannot but be the object of his wrath